Ch 25 – The story in the old tower

“Even tho I’m curious too Ali, we need to focus on something other than that, I don’t care why your school’s dean is doing at another noble’s house.”

Ali’s unsatisfied pouty face isn’t cute at this moment; I understand Dom’s worries and his proposal is logical, it’s just not going to be easy to explain the details.

“Dom, Ali... the thing is, how do we explain it? I’ve read most of the books here at home, and many if not all the ones that could contain records of our race, our ways or how they were perceived in the past, and aside from really really old transcribed texts containing legends, rumors and stories that are fairly inaccurate, there is basically nothing that is accessible to the public to serve as support”

And I mean it, I’ve asked dad, Higg and other knights and the concept of “the gods” is nothing more than old stories to them. How do we begin to explain the ritual itself?

“How about we just invite them over, and tell them that we have something to discuss, but they need to accept first something that will be weird, and as soon as is done they will simply hear and understand?”

I’m not sure if it’s the moon shining on him right now, but one way or another Dom’s idea doesn’t sound half bad, won’t hurt trying it.

“What do you think Ali? Do you agree with Dom’s idea?”

“~he he~ they are aware that we are “different” Gat, so why not try it? If they want to stay with us they will have to agree, and once they are bound to you, there is just no way they can deny our story ~popon~”

Oh well so be it, tomorrow I’ll have them meet me in the Market district, and outside Imil we’ll perform the ritual.

---------------------------------------

We’ve been riding for several hours now, Juls, Dan, Az, Gali, Ali, Dom and Gat are very used to this long and heavy horse-riding but my legs are starting to feel a bit strained.

We have been rotating positions every hour, now I’m besides Gat in front, she hasn’t said much about what does she wants to talk about, but seems to be something really serious. Her face when we met in the plaza near the eastern entrance of the city clearly told me so.

“So gat, after managing to lose the knights that were appointed as my guards, why do we need to ride for so many hours? What is it that you want to tell us?”

That smile won’t buy me Gat we just entered the Mojun forest, even though it’s barely outside Imil, it’s considered to be a somewhat dangerous place. It has a few abandoned fortresses.

“We are close, once we get to where we’ll rest all will be revealed, trust me friend. I’ll never endanger any of you needlessly, and if it happens I’ll protect you all with all my might.”

As the forest started to get thicker and darker, we came across a small abandoned tower where Gat asked us to get in. The place in general is somewhat eerie it’s not your typical green forest, it has shades of blue and much gray, it’s a cold place to be I can see how it could be used for ambushes and the like.

“We are here, close the gate, make sure the horses are well tied and have refreshments. When ready get it and well talk.”

With no questioning everyone started to move, that kind of work is not just beneath me but also I’m not used to it so the rest take care of my horse as I walk inside the tower.

Much to my surprise the place is fairly maintained, there is a wooden circular table with 10 seats that looks properly kept, it’s just matter of cleaning up the place, gat lights up some torches and start closing the windows, not long after everyone is inside doing this and that, checking the rooms, basement, upper floors and corridors and not an hour later gat asked us to sit down. It’s clear they have been here before, only Domenic and I seem to be new to the place.

“Thank you all for accommodating my selfish request with the urgency that was required, it means a lot to me. Today we are to talk about the future, about the present and some things that will change your complete outlook about what is life and the world itself, so please as you always do, trust me and remove those confused looks.

I swear to you all here, not a single lie will be uttered from my mouth and I hope you keep that same oath, as I need you to trust me as much as I trust you.

Once we get to where we need to get not only you will believe me, you will understand. So bear with the cryptic way of doing things for now.”

It’s clear that the others are confused, Gali is even a bit afraid, well can’t blame them for I have been fairly vague with my words and Roxy in particular has never been here so is no wonder she has doubts.

“I’ll start with a question, I want to hear from Roxy first.

What are the gods?”

Wow except for Ali and Dan everyone’s face are a poem, clearly not understanding where I’m going hahaha, Ali is smiling understandingly is very soothing whereas Dom is just serious looking at the five with a lot of attention.

“Gat, what you mean? Gods as in those in the abandoned and untold stories of old long long forgotten by the people?

The beings that created the world and all that lives in it?”

“Yes”

As I nod and reply to her question with a simple word she ponders for a bit and continues.

“Fantasy is what I would say, the invention of someone’s imagination the whole idea of it sounds somewhat preposterous to me.

Immortal beings that are all powerful and war against each other, creating armies of apparently also immortal and all powerful slaves to fight for them?

That’s simply the dream of some fairly disturbed individual in my opinion.”

Clearly haha! that’s what most say but

“Then how come even if texts of old, how come so many authors ‘of old’ wrote about them?

From different cultures, locations, ages, races and creeds?”

She looks at me still questioning the question itself more than “why” did I ask that.

“It’s true that a lot of whatever scarcely can be found about the gods is written by different people, as what has been recovered and recorded is from bygone eras, that could be explained by the fact that is somewhat a contagious subject.

I mean what I know comes from my own curiosity, which sprouted from reading old texts found in the Royal Palace. It’s a beautiful concept that relies in the fictitious entities as means to explain that which people do not understand is it not?”

Bait laid and bitten, I’ve picked her interest as it seems she had some information prior to today, which is great for me. Dom seems satisfied and Ali is nodding a bit.

“What about you Juls? Dan? Azer? ”

“Sorry Gat, no idea”

“Gat, Gods? What’s that?”

Juls and Dan just shake their heads after saying they don’t know anything, haven’t even bothered to search info about it, but Azer seems to have an opinion, let’s hear it.

“I don’t have as much information as the princess it seems but I’ve read a references in really few papers about the topic, and I agree with the last statement princess Roxanna said.

It’s easier to drop that which cannot be explained into gods or as they also have been called ‘deities’ as means to not bother trying to understand it.

Why do you ask?”

“Gali? Anything you want to add to it?”

“Gat I really don’t like the subject, as you are aware my grandfather is an elder and seer, my family from my mother’s side has a long line of seers that serve the king.

Currently the elder is the only one to receive a foretelling in over 7 generations, and only he and the king know about it.

So to us, the gods are not so much a figment of imagination as much as a concept that encompasses the world’s voice.

If there is even such a thing.”

Ho I didn’t know that there was an oracle alive in the kingdom, it’s great to know. Ali and Dom seem interested. Tho seems she wants to say something else...

“Gat, while... nah doesn’t matter”

“If is straining you in any way it matters, so say it if it will make you feel better”

Lowering her head and blushing a little, Gali seems to be thinking about something, with a bang hitting the table she looks at me in the eyes...

“From the winged horse and the dark rider

A flame will be lit

With time its strength will grow

And will shine in the dark

It will heat when it’s cold

With its light it will guide

With its shadows will protect

When I was little my grandfather told me that small prose, and years later when I decided to go to the RA told me to befriend you if it was possible.

I didn’t understand at that time what he meant, but it’s been years and I’ve had time to ponder about his words, It feels as if he knew I would meet you and follow you somehow.

I’m sorry for keeping this from you for so long”

When she ended talking she lowered again her head as she sat down, everyone is astonished at her revelation myself included, I mean come on that’s quite the oracle there her grandfather told her.

Only one foretelling? Give me a break haha, that old man must know a lot of things, I would love to meet him someday.

“Worry not, I’m amazed but not mad in any way, now let me go back to the topic at hand.

What if I told you guys that the gods are not a figment of anyone’s imagination but actual beings that ‘used’ to exist? What would you say to that?”

The five mortals are looking at me with odd expressions in their faces, Dan and Juls are more confused than doubtful, Azer is showing clear signs of high interest, Roxy has eyes full of doubt and Gali is extremely surprised.

“I’m not sure what to say”

“I’m just confused Gat, but if you say so I believe you”

“I’m more interested in understanding your reasoning than doubting it”

“For argument sake I would hear you but, I’m a realist here, it’s what politics and manipulation is all about”

“...would you come with me some day and meet my grandfather?”

After everyone voices what’s on their minds I raise my arms stopping the mumbling and request that they focus on me, after a little while, they settle down Ali and Dom bring cups, bread, cheese, Jam and wine.

I stare at them as they get some refreshments and calm a bit and start focusing on me.

I too need sustenance and refreshments, considering I’m going to thread in the unknown here for them, so let’s relax a bit too first and then continue with the talk in the direction I want it to go.

“Everyone here has been training their ‘qi’ right? Good did you all execute the special training I gave you? Great, well let’s tell you a story”